Folding commode



G. 0. BOVE Y. Folding Oommode.

No. 234,230. Patented Nov. 9,1880.

r O .M 7% mm V M Ma t m #m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE O. BOVEY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

FOLDING COMMODE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,230, dated November9, 1880.

Application filed January 26, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE O. BOVEY, of Columbus, Franklin county, Ohio,have invented a new and useful Folding Oommode, of which the followingis a specification.

The object of my invention is to furnish a commode that can be folded upin the most compact shape when not in use, and which, when open, willafford a comfortable and se cure seat for an invalid or aged person.

The device consists, essentially, of a light but secure frame, to whichis hinged two perpendicular leaves, wings, or small doors, that can bereadily opened to support the commodeseat, which seat is hinged to thecentral rail of said frame, and preferably opens upwardly.

When the commode is fully opened an ordinary chamber-vessel, or box, orpan, is placed under the seat to receive the excreta, or the latter maybe deposited in a receptacle temporarily applied to said seat.

The folding commode, as above described, may be separate and complete initself, or it may be attached to the back of a wash-stand ordressing-case, or any other article of furniture that can be readilyhandled in a sick-room.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing therear side of my folding commode in its closed condition. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the front of the same in its open position. Fig. 3is a vertical section, showing the device applied to the back of awash-stand; and Fig. 4 represents, on an enlarged scale, the lockin gdevices that secure the seat to the doors.

The principal member of my commode is a light but secure frame, composedof two uprights or posts, A A, united by a bottom rail, B, a top rail,0, and an intermediate one, D, to which latter is hinged, at d d, aswinging seat, E, having a customary hole, F.

Hinged to the upright -A, at a, is a door, or leaf, or wing, G, whichmay be a solid piece of stufi, as shown, or it may be a mere frame. Theother upright, A, has hinged to it, at a, a precisely similar door, orwing, or frame, Gr. Attached to the inner sides of these doors arebrackets H H, to receive the hook-shaped retaining devices I 1, whichlatter are secured to the under side of seat E, and near the free edgeof the latter.

Fastened to the uprights A A and rails (J D is a thick piece of canvas,J, between which and the back K is stuffed a suitable filling, L.

g and g represent the padded or upholstered sides of the leaves G G.

M are holes in the uprights A A, for the passage of screws or bolts whenit is desired to apply the commode to the back N of a wash-stand, O, orother article of furniture.

A curtain or other screen, P, may be fastened to the seat E, for thepurpose of concealing the chamber-vessel R under said seat, or dovetailgrooves T may be cut in the under side of said seat, to receive asliding receptacle, U, charged with earth or other material that willabsorb the excreta. Or, if preferred, this seat may be adapted to slideupon cleats fastened within the Wash-stand, of which cleats one isindicated in Fig. 3 by the dotted lines V. When thus arranged the back Nof the stand must be slotted horizontally to permit the ready passage ofthe sliding seat. Finally, a box, W, may be housed within the bottom ofthe stand 0, so as to enable the commode to be used as an earth-closet.

When the device is closed, as represented in Fig. 1, the seat E Fdepends from its hinged connections d d of rail D, while the doorsG Gare folded up flush with the outside of the frame, said doors being nowheld together with hooks or with a strap and buckle or other convenientappliances. \Vhen thus closed the commode may be supported against awall, or it may be suspended upon the same; but in either event the seatE F can be concealed by simply turning it toward said wall.

To use the device it is only necessary to open the doors G G, turn upthe seat E F until its free edge is slightly above the level of rail D,and then drop said seat so as to cause its hooks I I to lock into thebrackets H H, after which act the vessel R is properly placed and thecommode is at once ready for use.

While being used the padded portion 9 g K serve as cushions for thesides and back of the invalid, while the seat E F supports the sickperson in a very easy and comfortable position and prevents anyinjurious straining of the limbs which results from sitting on a lowvessel for any length of time. When through with, the commode can befolded up in a few moments and hung out of sight.

When attached to the back of a wash-stand or other article of furniture,it is only necessary to wheel the stand away from the wall and thenarrange the commode as above described, it being apparent that thelatter, when closed, will not project more than two inches from the backof said stand.

When the curtain P is applied its free edge or margin can be gathered upand stuffed into the hole F, so as to allow all the hinged members ofthe commode to fold together in the I most compact manner.

In an inferior modification of my invention the seat E F may be adaptedto swing or close up above the rail 1), instead of closing bydroppingbelow the latter, but such an arrange ment would be veryobjectionable, because the upholstered back K could not then be appliedto the frame of the commode. In some cases this frame may be a solidpiece of stuff.

I claim as my invention- 1. Afolding commode consistingot' a frame, 1 towhich are hinged a pair of doors and a seat, which seat is supported byand engaged with i said doors when the latter are thrown open, as 4herein described. I

2. A folding commode consisting of the frame A A B C D, hinged doors orwings a (l a G, hinged seat d d E F, and retaining devices H H I l, asherein described.

3. A folding commode consisting of the frame A A B U D, hinged doors orwings a (l a G, hinged seat d d E F, and retaining devices H H I l, theupper portions of said frame and doors being cushioned, respectively, atK and g g, as herein described.

4. A folding commodeconsisting of the cushioned frame A A B C D K,hinged and cushioned wings a G g a G g, retaining devices H H I I, andcurtain P, as herein described.

5. The folding commode herein described, applied to the back of awash-stand or other readily-movable article of furniture, for thepurpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE C. BOVEY. Witnesses:

JAMES II. LAYMAN, \VALTER S. J. JONES.

